Display package



arch 14, 1967 K. REINER DISPLAY PACKAGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 14, 1965 ,Ksmvsnv ,1? EVA/51?,

arch 14, 1967 K. REINER DISPLAY PACKAGE 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed April 14, 1965 United States Patent ()fitice 33%,934 Patented Mar. 14, 1967 3,398,934 DISPLAY PACKAGE Kenneth Reiner, 7875 Telegraph Road, Pico Rivera, Caiif. 99660 Filed Apr. 14, 1965, Ser. No. 448,014 Claims. (Cl. 206-) The present invention relates to packaging and more specifically to display packaging of the type wherein the carton or wrapper in which merchandise is shipped is used as a counter display from which merchandise or packages of merchandise are shown to prospective customers at the point of sale.

In the past it has been common to provide cartons or outer containers wherein the cover could be removed and used (either in its original form or after being reshaped in some manner) as a stand for holding the carton and its contents in a display attitude. However, such devices, even though commonly used, have certain limitations in the respect that generally only a single plane (the open top of the carton) may be viewed. Hence such display units are limited, in a practical sense to use with either identical items or to small items which may all be viewed from the open top or end of the carton and rolls of candy, chewing gum packages and cigars are examples of merchandise packaged in this manner. Only such items can be displayed in such cartons because, when a variety of similarly packaged items of different color, size or nature are placed in an outer container and are individually similarly packaged within that outer container, the result is usually that the visible front or top package hides all of the others from the view of the prospective purchaser. Where efforts have been made to improve the visibility of merchandise by raising some above the level of the rest, within the carton, such efforts have usually involved greatly enlarging the size of the carton for shipping and/or storage and greatly increasing the cost of the carton.

The present invention provides economical means which may be retained within a carton, without noticeably affecting the outer proportions thereof and which are effective upon removal of the cover or lid from the carton to lift the merchandise partially out of the carton at either one or a plurality of levels so that a great number of the packages or items held in the carton may be readily viewed by a prospective purchaser. The result is to provide a display carton of improved attractiveness and, as previously stated, to make more varieties of merchandise easily discernible, thus greatly increasing sales potential.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention, to provide improved display carton devices.

.,A further object of the present invention is to provide improved display carton devices including means to lift merchandise above the bottom of the carton for better visibility when the cover is removed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide improved display carton devices including means to lift merchandise from the bottom of the carton to a plurality of levels above the bottom of the carton when the cover is removed.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide improved display cartons which are of minimum size for shipment and storage and yet contain means for holding the merchandise in the carton in a display arrangement raised from the bottom of the carton for counter display.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide insert means which are maintained in a fiat position beneath merchandise in a carton for shipping and storage purposes, said insert means being adapted to raise the merchandise above the bottom of the carton in a display arrangement when the cover of the carton is removed.

These and other objects and the advantages attendant thereto will become obvious from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals have been appended to like parts throughout and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a display carton according to the present invention in the condition in which it is stored and shipped to the ultimate user, with the closure lid shown in dotted line in the open position thereof.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the carton of FIG- URE 1 showing the parts thereof in the final display condition.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, in enlarged scale, and with parts broken away for clarity of ilustration.

FEGURE 4 is a perspective view of a detail of the carton of FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, ilustrating the elevating device forming a portion of said carton in its depressed fiat condition and showing, in dotted lines, the placement of merchandise packages thereon.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the elevating device of FIGURE 4 in its raised or elevated condition.

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line e e of FIGURE 5 in enlarged scale.

FZGURE 7 is a plan view of the cardboard or paperboard blank of which the elevating device ilustrated in FEGURES 4, 5 and 6 is formed.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of elevating device according to the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein FIGURES l to 7 illustrate an embodiment of a display carton accord ing to the present invention, it may be seen that such display packages comprise a carton or outer wrapper 10, a cover or lid means 32, and contents comprising individual packages 14. It should be understood that the carton 1i) and the lid 12 may be of various forms and shapes other than that shown. Thus, the lid could be an entirely removable rectangular lid as distinguished from the foldup display type shown and the carton 10 might be of regular external conformation rather than the stepped conformation shown in the drawings. For reasons to be discussed hereinafter, it is desirable, although not essential, that some means be provided for holding the lid in closed position during storage or shipment of the carton and for this purpose an elastic band or a length of adhesive tape 16, such as that shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 1, may be utilized, if desired. The individual packages 14 contain merchandise, such as bows, for example, which are illustrated in dotted lines, as at 18, in FIGURE 2.

The packages 14 are arranged in groups within inner wrappers 29 and the groups so containedin the wrappers 20 are positioned one behind the. other in the carton 10 as shown in the drawings (see FIGURES 2 and 3). An elevating device, generally designated by the reference numeral 22 is interposed between the bottom of the carton if and the bottoms of the inner wrappers 20, as best illustrated in FIGURE 3, and as illustrated in dotted lines in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6. Many variations of elevating devices 22 could be used in the practice of the present invention, and several illustrative examples are shown in the drawings. The elevating device illustrated in FIG- URES 1 to 7 is one embodiment of device suitable for performing the function of the present invention and such an elevating device comprises a fibreboard or cardboard blank 24 and an elastic band 26.

The blank 2- is of the shape shown in FIGURE 7 and is scored to form various flaps and panels as will be described hereinafter. Thus, the blank 24 comprises a gen erally T-shaped body having a flat base portion 28, the base portion including lateral extensions 35? as shown, the purpose of, the flat base portion and the extensions being to provide stabilityfor the elevating device. longitudinally from the base in thedirection of the extensions 3d, the main body of the blank comprises a central extension'32 which is out along the lines 34, 34 to PTO-9 vide stabilizing flaps 3636. The longitudinal edges of the central extension 32 are scored,'for bending, as at 33-38, so that the wing portions 4% formed thereby may be bent upwardly from the plane of the blank 24. Each of the Wings 46 is longitudinally scored as at 42, 42 to form inner segments 44 and outer segments 46, separated by the bend lines formed by the scoring 42 in each case. The wing portions 40 are notched as at 43'on either side of the scoring or bend lines 42 to provide elastic band retaining. notches as will be more fully described hereinafter. One of the, outer segments, 46 is provided with a cut-out portion 50 at the lateral extremity thereof and the opposed outer segment 46 is provided with a complementary outwardly extending tab 52 as shown.

It may be seen from FIGURE 7 that the inner segment 44 of the blank comprises a wider portionin the wing area of the. blank and a narrower portion 44a adjacent the base portion 28 of the blank 24. This provides edges 54 which servev the function of supporting an inner wrapper 20 when the blank is folded into its finalcondition as is shown in FIGURES 3, and 6 and as will be more fully described hereinafter;

. outer segments 46 inwardly toward one another along the scorelines 42 and inserting the tab 52 into, the notch 59 so that the assembled blank takes: on the appearance best shown in FIGURE 5. It should be noted that: in this assembled condition, the base portion 28, the extensions 3),'

and the stabilizing flaps 36 are all on a common plane and serve, along with the central portion 32, to provide a solid foundation andbase for the elevating device formed thereby. It should further be noted that the inter-relationship between the tab 52 and the cut-out portion 5% (established by the lengths of the segments and the position of the score lines 42) is such that the tab 52 is engaged by the inner segment 44 at the score line 38 on the opposite side of the center line of the blank and the outer edges of the other segment 46 containing the cut-out portion 50 similarly engage the score line 38 of the opposed inner segment 44, the segments 44 thus serving as stops in the elevated position of the device. noted that the engagement between tab 52 and cut-out portion 50 prevents movement of the two segments 44 relative to one another so that the final positions of; the parts are fixed when the blank is folded into its assembled form (see FIGURES 5 and 6) as well as in the depressed position of FIGURE 4. The assembly is completed by positioning an elastic band, as a rubber band 26, in the notches 48. The elastic band 26 is effective to hold the thus folded wing portions in the position shown in FIG- URE 5 as the normal position of the assembly, but it should be noted that upon the application of downward force upon the wings, the elastic band is stretched and the folded blank is moved from the elevated position shown ii -FIGURE 5 to the flattened. position shown in FIG- URE 4.

In use, a carton and an elevating device 22 are separately assembled and the elevating device is placed within the carton. Inner wrappers 20 are each loaded with an appropriate number of individual packages 14, arranged as desired for maximum display efficiency. In the illustrative example, the package size is such thatfour columns ofpackages are arranged side by side for display,

within each wrapper. Also, in the illustrative example,

Extending It should also be bly is completed by pushing the packages 14 (within.

wrappers 26) into the carton 1E and by closing the lid 12 to the closed position of FIGURE 1. The packaging assembly is completed, if desired, by the application of an adhesive tab 16 to the carton body and to the lid 12 toretain the lid in closed position.

It is an important feature of the embodiment thus far described that the force (toward the center line of the elevating device 22) exerted by the elastic band 26 is at a minimum when the wing portions 40 are in the depressed position of FIGURE 4 since the said Wings are flat and there is substantially no level" arm or angle of force tending to lift the said wings. If the Wing portions 40'are started in motion in an upward direction the elastic band 26 will then exert an increasing force tending to raise the wing portions to the elevated position shown ,in FIG- URE 5 and to retain them in such position. The size and thickness of the elastic band 26 are preferably so chosen that the weight of the packages in the wrappers 24) is sufiicient to hold the elevating device in the depressed position shown in FIGURE 4 against the minimal force exerted by the elasticband in this position. Under this circumstance, whenthe package is completed and ready for shipping, there is little or no tendency for, the elevating device to assume the position'shown in FIG- URE 5.

When the ultimate user proposes to set up the package as a display device, the adhesive tag 16 (if one is used) is removed and the lid 12 folded into the raised position shown in FIGURESZ and 3. Under normal circumstances, the rear two inner wrappers 2t and their contents will tendtoremain in depressed position and the user is required to start theelevating action. This may be ac-. complished by providinga pull-tape 56 as shown in dotted lines in FIGURES 2 and 3 which may be used to lift the rearmost WI'flPPGI 20 and its contents to allow the elevating device to move from the position shown in FIGURE 4 to that shown inFIGURES 3,5 and 6. Alternately,-instead of the tape 56, finger-holes (not shown) may be provided in the bottom of the carton 1t) beneath'the, depressed shipping position of the wings 40 so that the ultimate user may insert his fingers therein to exert pressure upon the wing portions 40 to startthem in :theirupward movement. As explained hereinabove, the pressure exerted by the elastic band 26 tending to hold the wing portions 40 in their elevated position increases as the Wing portions are elevated due to the fact that the torque arm is continuously increased as the wings are elevated. This movement continues until the tab 52 and the edges defin ing the cut-out 50 reach their terminal stop positions as shown in FIGURE 6. In this position, shown in FIG- URES 3, 5 and 6, the elevating device provides a solid, sturdy display stand for holding the multiple of Wrappers 20 and the individual packages 14 inserted therein, at varying degrees of elevation, as shown in the drawings.

It should be noted, that in the illustrative example,

six each of twelve different items of different nature or color can be displayed in an attractive orderly display arrangement.

It should be obvious that many variations in the nature of the elevating device are possible within the spirit of the present invention. One such other embodiment is illustrated, generally indicated by the reference numeral 22a, in FIGURE 8. The FIGURE8 embodiment comprises a single strip of suitablevresilient sheet material, the said strip being of stepped planform, as shown in full lines in FIGURE 8. The elevating device of FIG.- URE 8 comprises a stabilizingv extension 58, a wider intermediate portion 66 and a still wider wing portion 62. The sheet material is curled andtemperedto have a normal curvature of theportions 60 and 62 such as is shownin dotted lines in FIGURE 8. In this normal curled condition the intermediate portion 60 provides intermediate level edges 61 which are the equivalent of the edges 54 of the FIGURES 1 to 7 embodiment, and the wing portion 62 provides supporting edges 63 which are the equivalent of the supporting edges 42 of the FIGURES l to 7 embodiment. The elevating device 22a, illustrated in FIGURE 8, is utilized exactly as is the elevating device 22 of FIG- URES 1 to 7. It is placed within a carton 10-and the wrappers 20, with their individual packages 14, are placed thereover and pushed into a depressed position. The packaging assembly is completed by closing the lid 12 and securing it in place, as by an adhesive tab 16'. With the package assembly in this condition, the elevating device 22a is in the position shown in full lines in FIGURE 8. When the package is opened, as by removing the adhesive tab 16 and opening the lid 12, the resilience of the material of the elevating device, in seeking its normal shape (as illustrated in dotted lines in FIGURE 8) lifts the middle and rearmost inner wrappers to elevated positions so that the display package takes on the appearance best shown in FIGURE 2.

From the above, it may be seen that the present invention provides improved economical display carton assemlies wherein a large number of varieties of articles may be attractively simultaneously displayed at the point of sale. It may further be seen that the present invention provides elevating means which may be maintained fiat within an outer shipping carton for shipping and storage purposes and yet be effective in elevating and holding the merchandise at different levels for an attractive and most efficient display arrangement when placed upon a counter for counter display.

Obviously many variations in shape, size and in the materials which could be used are possible within the spirit of the invention disclosed in the above specification. For example, while the illustrated examples show only three levels of support for articles to be displayed, any reasonable number of such levels could be provided within the spirit of the teachings contained herein. Similarly, although the carton 10 is shown as having a stepped external side configuration, a container having level top edges could be used. Itshould also be noted that a conventionalbox top lid could be used rather than the folding type closure shown in the illustrated examples. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the scope of the present invention is not to be limited by the specific illustrative examples shown and described herein, but rather by the scope of the language of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A display package comprising an outer carton having an open top, a bottom, and upstanding side walls; a collapsible elevating device within said outer carton and resting in a flat collapsed position upon the surface of said bottom, a plurality of inner wrappers aligned one behind the other within said carton and resting upon said elevating device to confine the elevating device in said collapsed position between themselves and said bottom, and resilient means forming a part of said elevating device and adapted to cause it to change its position from said collapsed position to a raised condition wherein a portion of the elevating device is raised above said bottom so that at least one of said inner cartons is elevated thereby to a position above the bottom of the carton and projecting outwardly of the open top thereof.

2. A display package comprising an outer carton having a bottom and upstanding side walls, a collapsible elevating device within said outer carton and resting on the bottom thereof, a plurality of inner wrappers aligned one behind the other within said carton and resting upon said elevating device, said collapsible elevating device including resilient means for causing the elevating device to change its condition from a collapsed condition wherein the elevating device and the inner Wrappers contained thereon are adjacent the bottom of said outer carton to a raised condition wherein at least one of said inner wrappers is elevated thereby to a position above the bottom of the outer carton, said elevating device comprising a blank of material shaped and arranged to lie flat in collapsed position, said blank having a supporting and stabilizing base portion adapted to continuously rest upon the bottom of the carton, and at least one pair of laterally outwardly disposed wings integral with said base portion and disposed symmetrically on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line thereof, whereby to form horizontally aligned raised supporting edges when raised to the elevated position by said resilient means.

3. A display package according to claim 2 wherein there are at least two pairs of said wings arranged longitudinally of one another relative to the center line of the base portion, each of said pairs being of different lateral dimension from said center line, whereby to provide varying levels of supporting edges for different inner wrappers.

4. A display package according to claim 2 wherein said blank is of resilient material and is of stepped planform, the longitudinal central portion thereof forming said stabilizing base portion, the laterally disposed wings being normally of curved and elevated disposition whereby the weight of the inner wrappers and of contents of the inner wrappers will hold the elevating device normally flat in the bottom of the outer carton and an upward force onsaid inner wrappers or upon said wings will permit the said wings, by virtue of their resilience, to assume an elevated position and to support one or more inner wrappers in elevated position.

5. A display package according to claim 2 said elevating device comprising a scored and folded blank of relatively inflexible material, said blank comprising a fiat base stabilizing portion including a centrally disposed elongation, and opposed laterally extending wing portions attached to said elongation at either longitudinal edge thereof and connected thereto by score lines to provide bending at said score lines; and resilient means engaging the outer surface of each of said wing portions in its raised position and adapted to continuously urge the wing portions to said raised position whereby the outer edges of said wing portions provide supports for one or more of said inner wrappers in the elevated condition of the elevating device.

6. A display package according to claim 5 wherein the wing portions have integral stop extensions laterally outwardiy disposed thereof and connected thereto by score lines to provide bend lines therebet ween, the said stop extensions being bent inwardly toward the center line of the blank and being of a length to extend beyond the center line into engagement with the score line defining the line of connection of the opposite wing portion with said elongation, the said extensions being provided with complementary notch and finger means whereby the end of each extension extends beyond the end'of the other into contact with said last mentioned score line to pro vide stop means to limit the degree of elevating movement of the elevating device.

7. A display pae-kage according to claim 5 wherein each of said wing portions is of stepped configuration, whereby the edges of each step of the wing portions provides a different level of support for different of said inner wrappers.

8. A display package according to claim 7 wherein the widest parts of the stepped wing portions, which provide the highest levei of support have integral stop exensions laterally outwardly disposed thereof and connected thereto by score lines to provide bend lines there- 'between, the said stop extensions being bent inwardly toward the center line of the blank and being of a length to extend beyond the center line into engagement with tie score line defining the line of connection of the opposite wing portion with said elongation, the said extensions being provided with complementary notch and finger means whereby the end of each extension extends beyond the end of the other into contact with said last mentioned score line to provide stop means to limit the degree of elevating movement of the elevating device.

9. Collapsible elevatingmeans comprising a blank of material shaped and arranged to lie flat in collapsed position, said blank having a supporting and stabilizing base portion'adapted to continuously rest upon a stirface, and at least one pair of laterally outwardly disposed wings integral with said base portion and disposed symmetrically on opposite sides of the longitudinal center line thereof, and resilient means for causing said wings to change their position from said flat collapsed position to a raised position, whereby the outer edges of said wings form horizontally aligned raised supporting edges when raised to the elevated position by said resilient means.

10. Collapsible elevating means according to claim 9 wherein there are at least two pairs of said wings arranged longitudinally of oneanother relative to the center line of the base portion, each of said pairs being of difierent lateral dimension from said center line, whereby to provide varying levels of supporting edges 11. Collapsible elevating means according to claim 9 wherein the said blank is a blank of resilient material of stepped planform, the longitudinal central portion thereof forming said stabilizing base portion, the said laterally disposed wings being normally of curved and elevated disposition whereby the weight, of objects placed thereon will hold the elevating device normaliy fiat on a supporting surface and an upward force on said objects or upon said wings will permit the said wings, by virtue of their resilience, to assume an elevated position and to support one or more objects in elevated position.

12.. Collapsible elevating means according to claim 9, wherein said blank is a scored and folded blank of rela tively inflexible material, said blank comprising a fiat base stabilizing portion including a centrally disposed elongation and opposed laterally extending wing portions attached to said elongation at either longitudinal edge thereof and connected thereto by score lines to provide bending at said score lines; and resilient means engaging the outer surface of each of said wing portions in its raised position and adapted to continuously urge the wing portions to said raised position whereby'the outer edges of saidiwing portions provide supports for one or more objects. in the elevated condition of the elevating device.

-13. Collapsible, elevating-means according to claim 9 wherein the wing portions have integral stop extensions laterally outwardly disposed thereof and connected thereto by score lines to provide bend lines therebetween, the said stop extensions being bent inwardly toward the center line of the blank and=being of a length to extend beyond the center line into engagement. with thescore line defining the line of connection of the, opposite wing portion with said elongation, the said extensions being provided with complementary notch and finger means whereby the end of each extension extends beyond the end of the other into contact with said last mentioned score line to provide stop means to limit the degree of elevating movement of the elevating device.

14. Collapsible elevating means according to claim 9 wherein each of said wing portions is of stepped configuration, whereby the edges of each step of the wing portions provides a difierent level of support for different objects.

15. Collapsible elevating means acording to claim 14 I wherein the widest parts of the stopped wing portions,

which provide the highest level of support have integral stop extensions laterally outwardly disposed thereof and connected thereto by score linesto provide bend lines therebetween, the said stop extensions being bent inwardly toward the center line of the blank and being of a length to extend beyond the center line into engagement with the score line defining the line of connection of the opposite wing portion with said elongation, the said ex-l tensions being provided with complementary notch and finger means whereby the end of each extension extends beyond the end of the other onto contact with said last mentioned score line to provide stop means to limit the degree of elevating movement of the elevating device.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 861,934 7/1907 Barnea 206' 1,964,294 6/1934 Macdonald 206-45 2,185,605 1/1940 Murphy et al. 206--41.2 2,601,374 6/1952 Ditzler. 2,926,778 3/1960 Maguire 206-45 THEJRON E. CONDO-N, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM T, DIXSON, JR., Examiner. 

1. A DISPLAY PACKAGE COMPRISING AN OUTER CARTON HAVING AN OPEN TOP, A BOTTOM, AND UPSTANDING SIDE WALLS; A COLLAPSIBLE ELEVATING DEVICE WITHIN SAID OUTER CARTON AND RESTING IN A FLAT COLLAPSED POSITION UPON THE SURFACE OF SAID BOTTOM, A PLURALITY OF INNER WRAPPERS ALIGNED ONE BEHIND THE OTHER WITHIN SAID CARTON AND RESTING UPON SAID ELEVATING DEVICE TO CONFINE THE ELEVATING DEVICE IN SAID COLLAPSED POSITION BETWEEN THEMSELVES AND SAID BOTTOM, AND RESILIENT MEANS FORMING A PART OF SAID ELEVATING DEVICE 